Rate Insignia of Enlisted Personnel

1943-1965

The rating badge — a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating (job specialty) — was worn on the upper sleeve of all uniforms for grades E-4 and above.

Until April 1949, ratings were designated left- and right-sleeve ratings and the eagle faced the opposite direction accordingly. After April 1949, all rating badges were worn on the left sleeve with the eagle (known as a crow to salty sailors) facing to the right.

At about the same time, rate and rating abbreviations were simplified. For example, a quartermaster third class was abbreviated as QM3c during World War II and simply QM3 during the Cold War era. Examples are given below.

In a few cases, special titles were used by certain ratings. The best-known example was the rating of coxswain, used in lieu of boatswain’s mate third class until 1948.

Sailors in pay grade E-1, usually recruits, did not wear a rate mark. Pay grades E-2 and E-3 had color-coded group rate marks that were worn on dress uniforms only. The color of the mark was based upon their chosen occupational field.

Chief Petty Officers (E-7 through E-9) wore collar devices on their white and khaki uniforms, and rate badges on their gray and service dress blues. In written records during World War II, chiefs often annotated their rate with (AA) for acting appointment or (PA) for permanent appointment; for example, CQM (AA).

Examples shown below are for a quartermaster, who had the abbreviation QM, and Boatswain’s Mate, or BM.